2017 Masters: Favorites, Darkhorses And Guys With No Prayer

It is time.

Finally.

Time for “A Tradition Unlike Any Other.”

Thanks Jim Nance for the world’s best description of The Masters, a description so fine that Augusta National Golf Club has trademarked it.

Hello friends.

Hopefully they can’t take that one from Nantz.

The first major of the season and the one many deem the best, is upon us.

We know the course by heart.  You know the holes, you know where the birdies fly, where the eagles glide and where the real danger lurks.

This Augusta National Golf Club is not for the feint of heart.  It takes a lot of skill, a lot of heart and maybe a touch of luck to navigate your way past Amen Corner on Sunday then get the birdies you need at 13 and 15 and maybe one for the ages, like the curling putt Nicklaus sank at the 17th green back in 1986.

This place is sacred golf.  History is everywhere, the best of the best have been at their best when it counted most.  Best of all was Jack Nicklaus, who won six of his 18 majors at this stunning golf course.

There is no greater visual treat, this layout carved from the Fruitlands Nursery by Bob Jones and Alistar Mackenzie.  It is, indeed, unlike any other.

So let’s get right to today’s task and present for your inspection the men who would be King come Sunday, men who desperately want to don The Green Jacket.

YOUR NO-BRAINER FAVORITES:

Dustin Johnson:  What can you say about the world’s No. 1?  He’s won his last three events and has virtually shown little to no weaknesses.  Will he have a strategy this week that will allow that talent to take hold of this golf course?  He has the length, the iron shot skills, putting that is good enough and a short game that can have him in contention going into the final nine on Sunday.  An obvious pick by most everyone, but in this tournament, the obvious can sometimes be obviously wrong.

Jordan Spieth:  Spieth didn’t look so great in Houston last week, missing the cut.  But his game fits Augusta National to a tee.  He had it in the bag until he made his fateful error at 12 last year.  And that can be Spieth’s weakness — hitting the wrong shot at precisely the wrong time.  His putting makes him the threat that he is this week.  Despite missing the cut in Houston, Spieth came up with this gem:  “I think we know and the other players that are playing next week now, that we strike fear in others.”  Pretty bold, Mr. Spieth.

Rory McIlroy:  When you look at his length and accuracy off the tee and his ability to hit so many short irons into the greens, it’s hard not to imagine McIlroy winning a Green Jacket sometime.  But is this week that sometime?  His putting will be the issue.  The way Spieth’s putting strikes fear into the rest, McIlroy’s putting must strike fear into Rory at times.

Jason Day:  Not sure about Day.  We all know what he’s faced the past few weeks, in fact, his mother’s health has weighed heavily on him all year.  How will he play this week?  Could play like gangbusters or he could miss the cut.  Welcome to Day’s world.  There’s no doubt about his talent but there is doubt about what’s going on inside him.

Jon Rahm:  Augusta National has generally not been kind to first-timers at The Masters but Rahm is no ordinary first-timer.  He has the shots but putting could be an issue for him on these greens.  Patience comes into play big-time at Augusta and Rahm himself admits he’s not the most patient guy out there but what do you expect from a 22-year-old?

GUYS WHO SHOULD CONTEND:

Paul Casey:  Casey has a wonderful track record at The Masters.  He finished T-4 last year and has grown comfortable on the course.  He has the experience, the length, the control with his irons and a good-enough short game to be a factor.

Bubba Watson:  Had a pretty rotten showing last year.  Still, you cannot ignore the fact that he’s won twice and that the course sets up well for a left-hander with power.  His putting has been dragging him down the last two years and needs to be spot-on for anyone who wants to contend this week.

Alex Noren:  This guy has talent and has enough game to show up on the back nine on Sunday.  He’s a name many tend to overlook.

Matthew Fitzpatrick:  He’s one of Europe’s most talented young stars.  He finished in the top 10 last year and has improved his game immensely over the last 365 days.  Has all the tools to contend.

Hideki Matsuyama:  First thing you ask is did he peak a little too soon this season?  You also have to wonder how he’ll perform when the intensity of the spotlight goes off the charts.  Has all the tools but can he handle the mental side of Sunday afternoon?

Justin Rose:  He has the poise and the game.  Like everyone else in the field, it’s about the putting.  Would come as no surprise to see the Green Jacket go from one Englishman to another.

GOING OUTSIDE THE BOX:

Phil Mickelson:  Lefty didn’t impress anyone in Houston last week.  Didn’t make enough birdies, didn’t play very well overall.  Still, when it comes to strategy and imagination, he’s unsurpassed.  Has a great caddie on the bag it comes down to his tee shots.  Can he keep them between the trees this week?  Short game’s world-famous.  Can me make the crucial 10-footers when he needs them.  That’s the $64 question.

Henrik Stenson:  You never know.  Who foresaw that closing round at the Open Championship last year?  Does he have one of those this week?

Tommy Fleetwood:  Here’s a dark-horse for you.  Has had a nice season on the European Tour and has been striking his golf ball as well as anyone.

Patrick Reed:  Was winless at the match play and pretty miserable in missing the cut in Houston.

HOW ABOUT LONG-SHOTS?

Brandt Snedeker:   Bubba Watson picked him as one of his favorites.  Sneds is a long-shot.

Adam Scott:  Played pretty miserably last year.  Hasn’t impressed anyone this year.

Jimmy Walker:  You never know.  Who predicted he’d win the PGA last year?

Rickie Fowler:  After his debacle in Houston last week, can you trust Rickie on these putting greens?

Charl Schwartzel:   Better than most.

Louie Oosthuisen:  See Charl Schwartzel.

NO CHANCE WHATSOEVER:

It is often said that The Masters is the easiest major to win because in the 94-man field, there are only about 25 players capable of winning.

We present these players who have no shot at all:

Ian Woosnam, Fred Couples, Mike Weir, Vijay Singh, Rod Pampling, Mark O’Meara, Jose Maria Olazabal, Larry Mize, Sandy Lyle, amateur Curtis Luck, Bernhard Langer (he did quite well last year with a T24), amateur Stewart Hagestad, amateur Scott Gregory, amateur Tolo Gana, amateur Brad Dalke, Trevor Immelman, Roberto Castro Brian Stuard and Mackenzie Hughes.  Just to name a few.

You could also add Tiger Woods to the list.  He’ll be at home again for the third time in the last four years.  And just for the heck of it, throw Danny Willett in there.  He’s done nothing since falling into the best of fortune last year.

So will this be the year of the favorite or the year of the huge surprise, sorta like 2016?

Who do you like?